First published 2016
Students file into Professor Martinez's second-semester composition course, each carrying their own reasons for being there. Sarah struggles with her transfer application essay while working two jobs. Marcus questions whether his voice belongs in academic writing. The semester unfolds through peer reviews, late-night revisions, and moments of breakthrough. Each assignment reveals something new about the students and their instructor, who remembers his own difficult path through college. As deadlines approach and personal stakes rise, the classroom becomes a place where writing meets life. The students discover that finding their authentic voice on paper means confronting who they really are.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, college, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Mallard residence
Period: 19th century
191 pages · Paperback · Pearson Custom Publishing